La Surfista: What are you waiting for?

Shootin’ Da Schutte

Every once in a while the universe drops you in the middle of someone’s path.  They were a stranger to you, but now that person, for whatever reason, scoops you up and helps you out.  Yeah, Matt Schutte!  Yesterday he generously loaned me his camera and lenses to let me play around and take some photos. Admittedly, these aren’t the greatest shots.  I’d never used a Canon before, and I have a ton…

Photos being published by Surfer Mag!

Surfer Magazine PUBLISHED 3 of my photos from Mavericks! YEW!!!  This definitely was a right place/right time situation.  I had a supermodel as a subject and the seasoned professionals couldn’t get near her. Celine hooked me up with her friend at Surfer.  They were frothing for photos from one of the best days at Mavs in the last couple of years.  I’m gonna get cash monies.  WHO’S a professional…

2 Mavericks Videos from 12.7.15

These videos were shot with my iPhone.  They aren’t great but they give you the vibe of what it was like to be out there. https://videopress.com/embed/wlCVy4cs?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0   Our group of female Ocean Beach surfers were by far the loudest group on the water that day.  If they didn’t see us, they DEFINITELY heard us. “Outer Bar Babes Expedition!” “Backsplash!”…

I’d always wanted to see it surfed on a non-contest day.  As you can imagine, it is a zoo during the actual contest.  I wanted to see it without hundreds of spectators, photographers and news crews vying for primo viewing spots on lumbering boats.  So Celine and I waited for a day that was forecasted to be amazing, but not worthy of the contest being called.  We paid $80 to get on a boat to bring us ringside.  We woke up before dawn, popped dramamine and drove 25 minutes down the coast.  After an hour wait, our boat was cancelled due to dangerous conditions in the channel out to the break.  There were 45 foot waves bombing through and it was very foggy…understandable. Most of the 35 passengers on the boat called it a day and headed home, but 8 of us (mostly women who surf Ocean Beach) regrouped and found another boat to take us out. It was faster and smaller which would make the passage much safer. Were we pushing our luck? Maybe.  Did it feel risky? YES.  Was it worth it?  It was one of the best experiences of my life.

I took 850 photos, but these summarize the day.

Surfline report

Foggy morning waiting for boat to leave

Regrouping. Trying to find another boat to take us out

Ocean Beach ladies find a smaller boat!

Ken “Skindog” Collins got an early entry on to this big-un

It seemed pretty crowded at one point…maybe 30 surfers in the water

They are paddling like HELL to get up and over this wave. A huge set must be right behind this one so everyone must scramble or they will be crushed.

Rescue crews are everywhere

Bianca Valenti, above sitting, takes a break from the surf

Bianca, center

The long paddle back to shore